Chapter 3 - The Deposition of Lies
Twenty-four hours later, the Denver Police Department precinct was buzzing.
George, Patricia, and Megan Collins sat in the private interrogation waiting room, surrounded by their high-priced family attorney, Harold Vance. Megan wore an orthopedic boot on her right ankle, dabbing fake tears from her eyes with a lace handkerchief while Patricia stroked her hair. George was speaking loudly to a detective, pointing to a faint, red mark on his shoulder where Nathan had pushed past him.
"It was a bloodbath, Detective," George boomed, his voice dripping with theatrical outrage. "Nathan Parker is an unstable, violent man. He attacked my daughter Megan in a fit of rage because she accidentally spilled tea, and then he threw my poor Emily against the table when she tried to intervene! We tried to stop him, but he assaulted me and fled the scene with her!"
"My ankle is broken," Megan sobbed, leaning into her mother's shoulder. "He pushed me so hard... I heard it snap. He killed my sister's baby! He needs to go to prison for the rest of his life!"
"He will, Megan," Patricia cooed, glaring at the detective. "We want him charged with fetal homicide. We want him locked away forever."
The heavy wooden door of the waiting room swung open.
Arthur Pendelton, the senior managing partner of Pendelton & Associates—the prestigious corporate litigation firm where I was a senior partner—walked in. Behind him were two federal marshals and the Chief of Police.
"What is this?" George snapped, standing up. "Who are you? This is a private police matter."
"Actually, George, it's a federal civil rights and conspiracy investigation," Arthur said, his voice carrying the weight of a judge's gavel. He threw a heavy, bound stack of legal documents onto the table in front of Harold Vance.
"Vance, I suggest you read those before you let your clients speak another word," Arthur stated smoothly. "Because as of ten minutes ago, we have filed a fifty-million-dollar emergency civil suit against George, Patricia, and Megan Collins for conspiracy to commit murder, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and unlawful confinement."
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"This is ridiculous!" Patricia shrieked. "We are the victims! Emily's husband did this!"
"Is that so?" Arthur smiled coldly. He pulled a sleek digital tablet from his briefcase and pressed play.
